You are on page 1of 25

Media Briefing

Damage to Majuba power


station coal storage silo

03 November 2014

Tshediso Matona
Chief Executive






2
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan
3
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan
Majuba power station
situated in the Mpumalanga Province
4
Majuba
It is the youngest
commercially operated
power station in the fleet
Majuba Power Station
Majuba Power Station, situated in Mpumalanga,
has an installed capacity of 4110 MW generated
The station is 13 years old and became fully
operational in 2001 when the last of its six units came on line
Three, 10 000 ton coal storage silos were constructed in 1994
The latest civil visual inspection was conducted in September 2013 by
an external specialist, in line with best practice
The concrete structure was found to be in good condition.
Some moderate cases of external physical damage that was reported has
since been repaired
The risk classification was low






5
Sequence of events
(1 November 2014)
1 November 2014
All Majuba power station
units were running
normally, contracted
loads
Approximately 12:30
Operating staff
reported a visible
crack on silo 20
Immediately
thereafter all
personnel
working in the
area evacuated
13:12
Silo 20
collapsed
No injuries
reported.
The area was
secured and
protected
Station output
immediately reduced
from
3 600 MW to 1800 MW
and currently running at
600 MW
Majuba silo
Majuba response
Senior Engineers and
members of the Executive
Committee immediately
joined the Power Station
manager on-site
Eskom triggered its
Emergency Command
Centre. First priority was
to protect the power grid
and look at the impact of
power supply to the
country
Arrangements
were made for
permits to
transport mobile
coal feeders to
site to enable a
manual feed of
coal to five of the
six units. This to
ensure that the
power station is
able to operate at
a minimum of half-
load
The cause and
cost are yet to
be determined
as the incident
is now under
investigation
As a result of the early evacuation no injuries were reported
The situation is
being constantly
monitored and
progress updates
on contingency
plans will be
communicated
9
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan
Majuba
Main Supply, Coal from Coal Stock Yard,
(Overland conveyers), 2 250 T/h
Coal Supply to the Unit, (boiler Incline
conveyer) 800T/h
Max burn rate per Unit, 375 T/h. Station burn rate, 54 000 T/day
Over silo link Conveyers, 1200T/h
Majuba
Coal
stockyard
Majuba
Majuba
14
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan
15
Summer profile
The system remains tight in summer, with different challenges due to the load profile
Unlike winter, where the demand increases significantly during the evening peak
(5pm - 9pm), the demand profile during summer is much flatter with an increased
demand profile throughout the day
This is because of a relatively high percentage of almost constant industrial load and the
impact of air conditioning in the commercial and marginally in the residential sector
during the day. The significant residential component over evening peak is not as
evident in summer. If there is a constraint, the system is constrained all day
Summer is typically maintenance season, but this summer maintenance will increase
based on the generation strategy as most of the maintenance is fixed and cant be
deferred.
The challenge is to ensure that there is sufficient generation capacity throughout the
day, as we continue with our maintenance plan and focus on reducing unplanned
outages
The degree of tightness will depend on the performance of the plant and the level of
unplanned maintenance (UCLF) as well as the available capacity
Eskom will not compromise its generation plant and will load shed if necessary
to protect the power system from total collapse

Summer profile continued
Summer poses a different challenge as the profile looks flat and our planned
maintenance (PCLF) increases significantly compared to Winter



16
22000
24000
26000
28000
30000
32000
34000
0
0
:
0
0
0
1
:
0
0
0
2
:
0
0
0
3
:
0
0
0
4
:
0
0
0
5
:
0
0
0
6
:
0
0
0
7
:
0
0
0
8
:
0
0
0
9
:
0
0
1
0
:
0
0
1
1
:
0
0
1
2
:
0
0
1
3
:
0
0
1
4
:
0
0
1
5
:
0
0
1
6
:
0
0
1
7
:
0
0
1
8
:
0
0
1
9
:
0
0
2
0
:
0
0
2
1
:
0
0
2
2
:
0
0
2
3
:
0
0





Summer points to note

Table Mountain profile
Constrained all day incl. from 6am - 10pm
Air-conditioning, geysers & pool pumps
primarily impact demand
Commercial, agricultural & residential customers
can make the biggest difference






Constrained all day
Renewable independent power
producers peak at over 900 MW
(about 1 274 MW installed)
As we move more into a flatter
profile, the renewables will
increasingly offset some of the
OCGT usage
IPPs (wind & solar variability)
unavailable during evening peak
when demand is high
Impact of renewable generation
on the system
17
September hourly Solar (PV) and Wind
Overlap of renewable generation
and OCGT for one week
The situation today has been
exaggerated by the generally cloudy
conditions across the entire country
which has reduced the supply from
solar plants by almost 500 MW
Sunday: No loss of additional MW and
Majuba at 600MW output
18
Keeping to scheduled hours at Palmiet and Drakensberg.
Date
Time
Current Avail Cap (Incl Primary
Constraints)
MW Expected to Return/Go
Off
Forecast
Shortfall/Surplus on
demand
02/11/2014 00:00 to 01:00 27440 0 22411 5029
02/11/2014 01:00 to 02:00 27440 0 22021 5419
02/11/2014 02:00 to 03:00 27440 0 21835 5605
02/11/2014 03:00 to 04:00 27440 0 21717 5723
02/11/2014 04:00 to 05:00 27440 0 21894 5546
02/11/2014 05:00 to 06:00 27440 0 22527 4913
02/11/2014 06:00 to 07:00 27890 0 23982 3908
02/11/2014 07:00 to 08:00 28590 0 25945 2645
02/11/2014 08:00 to 09:00 28590 0 27449 1141
02/11/2014 09:00 to 10:00 28590 0 27857 733
02/11/2014 10:00 to 11:00 28590 0 27699 891
02/11/2014 11:00 to 12:00 28590 0 27606 984
02/11/2014 12:00 to 13:00 28590 0 27407 1183
02/11/2014 13:00 to 14:00 28590 0 26817 1773
02/11/2014 14:00 to 15:00 28590 0 26181 2409
02/11/2014 15:00 to 16:00 28590 0 26011 2579
02/11/2014 16:00 to 17:00 28590 0 26155 2435
02/11/2014 17:00 to 18:00 28590 0 26674 1916
02/11/2014 18:00 to 19:00 28590 0 27902 688
02/11/2014 19:00 to 20:00 28790 0 29491 -701
02/11/2014 20:00 to 21:00 28590 0 28155 435
02/11/2014 21:00 to 22:00 28590 0 25785 2805
02/11/2014 22:00 to 23:00 27690 0 24036 3654
02/11/2014 23:00 to 00:00 27440 0 22690 4750
Monday: Units return as expected and
Majuba at 600 MW output
19
Keeping to scheduled hours at Palmiet and Drakensberg.
Date
Time
Current Avail Cap (Incl Primary
Constraints)
MW Expected to Return/Go
Off
Forecast
Shortfall/Surplus on
demand
03/11/2014 00:00 to 01:00 27440 679 22217 5902
03/11/2014 01:00 to 02:00 27440 1358 21921 6802
03/11/2014 02:00 to 03:00 27440 1358 21856 6867
03/11/2014 03:00 to 04:00 27440 1358 22265 6458
03/11/2014 04:00 to 05:00 27440 1451 23591 5132
03/11/2014 05:00 to 06:00 28590 1543 26898 2975
03/11/2014 06:00 to 07:00 28590 1543 28346 1527
03/11/2014 07:00 to 08:00 28590 1543 27931 1942
03/11/2014 08:00 to 09:00 28590 1543 28676 1197
03/11/2014 09:00 to 10:00 28590 1543 28835 1038
03/11/2014 10:00 to 11:00 29040 1543 29146 1177
03/11/2014 11:00 to 12:00 29040 1543 29057 1266
03/11/2014 12:00 to 13:00 29040 1543 29019 1304
03/11/2014 13:00 to 14:00 28840 1543 28820 1303
03/11/2014 14:00 to 15:00 29090 1543 28882 1491
03/11/2014 15:00 to 16:00 28590 1543 29382 491
03/11/2014 16:00 to 17:00 28590 1543 29621 252
03/11/2014 17:00 to 18:00 29240 1543 29878 905
03/11/2014 18:00 to 19:00 29990 1543 30868 665
03/11/2014 19:00 to 20:00 29990 1543 31317 216
03/11/2014 20:00 to 21:00 29990 1543 30157 1116
03/11/2014 21:00 to 22:00 28590 1543 27986 1887
03/11/2014 22:00 to 23:00 28590 1236 25914 3652
03/11/2014 23:00 to 00:00 27890 928 24569 3989
Outlook
1. Sunday
Sunday shedding at Stage 2 will build up reserves for the week ahead
The current projection is to keep load shedding Stage 2 to ensure significant
recovery of the Peaking resources to ensure the impact of load shedding is less
severe during the week
Solar & wind currently sending out 160 MW and 90 MW respectively. Solar is
normally up to 500 MW (cloudiness affecting it significantly). Majuba currently
sending out about 600 MW (2 machines at half load)
2. Monday projection
Generation Capacity at 31 500 MW for the day, provided we do not have any
further breakdowns
Demand forecast for evening peak (31 317 MW highest of the day)
Risk of load shedding in particular between 18:00 20:00
20
Outlook continued
3. The rest of the week
If the capacity stays at the same level, we would have similar system
status. With the extensive usage of the water resources it would mean
by Wednesday we start to be constrained with water
If the capacity is still at the same level we would need to consider
Stage 1 load shedding possibly on Thursday (whole day) or as early
as Wednesday evening ( 4 6 hours)


21
How can consumers help?
Saving electricity reduces pressure on the grid and cuts your electricity
bill and South Africas carbon emissions
The power system remains vulnerable all day up to 10pm
1. Switch off air-conditioning or use efficiently
- Set air-conditioning at 23 degrees
2. Switch off all geysers and pool pumps all day until 10pm
3. Switch off all non-essential lighting
4. Respond to the Power Alert messages by switching off all
appliances that are not being used



22
23
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan
Conclusion
While the system is tight, this unplanned incident exacerbated the situation and it is very
likely that load shedding will continue for the week
An investigation is already underway into the cause of the incident, but it appears that
this is an isolated incident specific to the coal infrastructure at Majuba.
Mobile coal feeders are on-site and the team is optimistic that they can maintain half of
the total from the power station
The Minister of DPE is being kept abreast of all developments. Eskom has also
informed all key stakeholders including the Department of Education and the national
disaster management centre to minimise the impact for matriculants and all
communities
Eskom apologises to all electricity consumers but call on you yet again to switch off
unnecessary lights, the geyser, pool pump and air-conditioning
Load shedding schedules are available on Eskom website, and municipal customers
should contact their municipalities for details
We are painfully aware of the impact of this incident given the electricity supply situation
in the country
We will continue to communicate via the media
Thank you
25

You might also like